Just a few oddities for a start - Snowdrops emerging, caterpillars still
on brassicas -my July sown spinach and purple sprouting brocolli (in
polytunnel) now at size I would normally see in April - bizarre!

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In article ,
Trevor wrote:
Just a few oddities for a start - Snowdrops emerging, caterpillars still
on brassicas -my July sown spinach and purple sprouting brocolli (in
polytunnel) now at size I would normally see in April - bizarre!

I have a hemerocallis in a pot (don't ask) just about to flower.
Now, that's seriously out of phase!


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In article ,
says...

In article ,
Trevor wrote:
Just a few oddities for a start - Snowdrops emerging, caterpillars still
on brassicas -my July sown spinach and purple sprouting brocolli (in
polytunnel) now at size I would normally see in April - bizarre!

I have a hemerocallis in a pot (don't ask) just about to flower.
Now, that's seriously out of phase!


I have a hemerocallis about to open. Snow poppy in flower, daffodil
buds showing, fish still feeding, midges still dancing (though not
biting). We've not had any frost yet (isle of Arran) and it's still very
mild.

I don't recall a year when summer woody growth was so rambunctious,
the autumn trim so necessary, or produced such a mountain of stuff to
burn.

Janet.

On Sat, 22 Nov 2014 12:33:21 -0000,
Janet wrote:
I don't recall a year when summer woody growth was so rambunctious,
the autumn trim so necessary, or produced such a mountain of stuff to
burn.

As for Normandy, I am not yet in a position to complain about or to
praise its climate. The first frost passed and there appear to be few
insects left. However, planting trees and harvesting “Jerusalem
artichokes� (and I thought Topinambour were a strange name) is fun in
this weather.

But definitely, me too, I cannot remember many automns like this one.
There was, though, a 24 of December, in Bavaria (Germany) with Joggers
all over the town, cabriolets and beer-gardens reopened...

The first virtual climatic shocks are announced for around 2020.

Michael
--
Location: Lower Normandy (Orne), France
GnuPG/OpenPGP 4096R/3216CF02 2013-11-15 [expires: 2015-11-15]
sub 4096R/2751C550 2013-11-15 [expires: 2015-11-15]

"Trevor" wrote ...

Just a few oddities for a start - Snowdrops emerging, caterpillars still
on brassicas -my July sown spinach and purple sprouting brocolli (in
polytunnel) now at size I would normally see in April - bizarre!

Our winter cabbages are ready now and the spring caulies are all over.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On 23/11/2014 17:37, Bob Hobden wrote:
"Trevor" wrote ...

Just a few oddities for a start - Snowdrops emerging, caterpillars
still on brassicas -my July sown spinach and purple sprouting brocolli
(in polytunnel) now at size I would normally see in April - bizarre!

Our winter cabbages are ready now and the spring caulies are all over.


With a clear sky it feels as if our first frost is coming tonight, so
that won't do the bursting buds a lot of good

Hi Michael,

On Sun, 23 Nov 2014 10:23:28 +0100, Michael Uplawski wrote:

On Sat, 22 Nov 2014 12:33:21 -0000,
Janet wrote:
I don't recall a year when summer woody growth was so rambunctious,
the autumn trim so necessary, or produced such a mountain of stuff to
burn.

As for Normandy, I am not yet in a position to complain about or to
praise its climate. The first frost passed and there appear to be few
insects left.

Interesting, although we live very near it hasn't frozen yet or even
gotten very close. And there are an amazing amount of mosquitoes and
gnats: I can't ever remember so many in this season (usually don't get
that many mosquitoes at all). There will be at least one more mow of the
lawn, I did one this past WE in spite of the wet.

You're up on me, I haven't started the planting yet. Did you get the
medlar in?

cheers,

-E




--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

On 24 Nov 2014 18:41:10 GMT,
Emery Davis wrote:
Hi Michael,

As for Normandy, I am not yet in a position to complain about or to
praise its climate. The first frost passed and there appear to be few
insects left.

Interesting, although we live very near it hasn't frozen yet or even
gotten very close. And there are an amazing amount of mosquitoes and
gnats: I can't ever remember so many in this season (usually don't get
that many mosquitoes at all).

Although the “micro-climates� appear to be very pronounced in our region
( « this or that side of the forest ? » ), the mosquitoes surprise me.
I cannot say that we have had many during summer, but also anything
else, especially beetles and spiders have more or less disappeared.

There will be at least one more mow of the lawn, I did one this past
WE in spite of the wet.

Where I have used my scythe recently, all's calm. I can now take my time
covering up the newly accessible soil before winter.

You're up on me, I haven't started the planting yet. Did you get the
medlar in?

I may have put that wrong. What I try is grow medlars from seeds, as our
« arboriculteur » tells me that there is virtually no hope that their
scions will develop into trees. And he, himself, does not have any
medlars to sell. Last year, my wife planted medlar seeds in arbitrary
places. Myself, I prepared about a dozen small pots with 1 or 2 seeds in
each. More are currently drying at a distance from our stove.

All the spots, where we have planned to put in new bushes and trees are
currently occupied. ;-) There will be losses, but that is now one
“project� less to worry about. The greenhouse next.

Michael

cheers,

-E






--
Location: Lower Normandy (Orne), France
GnuPG/OpenPGP 4096R/3216CF02 2013-11-15 [expires: 2015-11-15]
sub 4096R/2751C550 2013-11-15 [expires: 2015-11-15]

On Tue, 25 Nov 2014 14:10:13 +0100, Michael Uplawski wrote:

On 24 Nov 2014 18:41:10 GMT,
Emery Davis wrote:
Hi Michael,

[]
Although the “micro-climates� appear to be very pronounced in our region
( « this or that side of the forest ? » ), the mosquitoes surprise me.
I cannot say that we have had many during summer, but also anything
else, especially beetles and spiders have more or less disappeared.


I think it is exactly that, to the west of the forest (we're actually
near the eastern edge but still well into it) it gets markedly colder in
winter. I actually think the micro climates are on a much finer scale;
since we're quite high (437m) you might expect it colder, but in fact it
is the lower hollows that get much colder, by as much as 5C compared to
us.


You're up on me, I haven't started the planting yet. Did you get the
medlar in?

I may have put that wrong. What I try is grow medlars from seeds, as our
« arboriculteur » tells me that there is virtually no hope that their
scions will develop into trees. And he, himself, does not have any
medlars to sell. Last year, my wife planted medlar seeds in arbitrary
places. Myself, I prepared about a dozen small pots with 1 or 2 seeds in
each. More are currently drying at a distance from our stove.


I think you'll wait for a long time for fruit... I did just notice medlar
for sale at the Point Vert, so I know they are available. Don't know how
important cultivar is with medlar. I just came across this lovely quote
from R&J:

Now will he sit under a medlar tree,
And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit
As maids call medlars, when they laugh alone.
O Romeo, that she were, O that she were
An open-arse and thou a poperin pear!

All the spots, where we have planned to put in new bushes and trees are
currently occupied. ;-) There will be losses, but that is now one
“project� less to worry about. The greenhouse next.


Bravo! Greenhouse indeed!

-E



--
Gardening in Lower Normandy